The Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has handed down a death sentence by hanging to three individuals—Oyebanji Sola, 31; Jimoh Azeez, 31; and Ogunlade Babatunde, 28—for their involvement in armed robbery. Additionally, 28-year-old Babalola Bidemi has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars, while Akinwale Oluwaseun, 26, has been acquitted of all charges.
The judicial proceedings, presided over by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, commenced on January 30, 2020, with the defendants facing a five-count charge related to conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of stolen goods, and membership in a secret cult.
The charges stemmed from an incident on October 3, 2018, at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado Ekiti, where the defendants were accused of orchestrating a robbery targeting Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide. The victims were reportedly relieved of their possessions, including phones, a plasma television, cash, and other valuables, at gunpoint and with the use of various weapons.
Prosecutor Dolapo Oyewole presented a compelling case, calling upon five witnesses and submitting key evidence, including the defendants’ statements, seized items, and witness testimonies, to substantiate the charges.
In her account to law enforcement, one of the victims detailed the harrowing experience of the robbery, recounting the intrusion into her home and the subsequent theft of her belongings at knifepoint.
Following a rigorous legal process, the defendants offered their defenses through legal representation and testimonies, with Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, counsel to Akinwale Oluwaseun, asserting his client’s innocence.
In delivering the verdict, Justice Ogunmoye underscored the severity of the crimes committed, concluding that while Babalola Bidemi’s involvement warranted a decade of incarceration, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez, and Ogunlade Babatunde were found guilty as charged and thus sentenced to death by hanging.
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